Stafford County Fire and Rescue and Fredericksburg Fire Department successfully rescued two kayakers from the Rappahannock River on Friday night, August 9, 2024. Despite strong currents and challenging conditions, both kayakers were safely brought to shore without injury. A Stafford County fire and rescue spokeswoman said the two were both adult women.
Press release:
Drivers on Kings Highway may wonder what happened to the long-standing sign for Fredericksburg Motor Sports.
On Aug. 9, a male driver in a pick-up truck attempted to turn right into the entrance between Sheetz and Burger King. Stafford County Sheriff’s office said the vehicle was traveling too fast, and struck the sign. The driver sustained minor injuries, and no other vehicles were involved. Both fire and police responded to the scene within minutes.
Manassas Park, the youngest city in Northern Virginia, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with events and activities beginning on July 1, 2024. The town, which declared independence from Prince William County in 1957 and itself a city in 1975, has planned various events throughout the year to mark this milestone.
City Council member Laura Hampton highlighted the city’s historical significance: “Manassas Park was primarily built for returning World War II veterans. The city has always been revolutionary, even when we were a town.”
Update — The tornado watch is canceled.
Original post — The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby are currently moving through the region, bringing significant impacts in the form of heavy rain, high winds, and multiple tornado warnings issued overnight. As of the morning of August 9, 2024, the tornado watch has been extended until 2 p.m. for several counties and independent cities across Virginia.
The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch in effect from 6:19 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9. The watch follows multiple reports of a tornado touching down in Caroline County yesterday evening.
The storm is predicted to bring significant rainfall to the area, with risks of flooding possible. The Rappahannock River last flooded downtown Fredericksburg on Jan. 10, 2024. It crested at 19.1 feet at 5:30pm, impacting Old Mill Park and encroaching trails along Fall Hill Avenue. Fredericksburg has already closed Old Mill Park in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby.
Tracy Lynn Cruz, known for her role as Ashley Hammond, the Yellow Ranger, in the 1990s Power Rangers series, will appear at Nova Gateway Comics and Toys, 2340 Plank Road, in Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Cruz, who is also a mother of four, including two children impacted by Autism, uses her platform to support families facing similar challenges.
“I love meeting people. At the cons, I do a lot of meet and greets, and there’s also a lot of networking opportunities,” said Cruz. “That’s how I got connected with Nova Gateway Comics—through networking at conventions.”
At 3:20 p.m., a black pickup truck flipped over the guardrail on Interstate 95 South at milepost 143, near Garrisonville Road in Stafford County.
Fire and rescue personnel are on the scene. The incident currently affects drivers headed toward the exit from Interstate 95 to Garrisonville Road west.
Just after 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, Stafford County fire crews responded to a structure fire in the rural area of Decatur Road in Widewater. Crews controlled the blaze despite water supply challenges. Two occupants inside the home made it out safely.
Press release:
In July, Fredericksburg City Mayor Kerry Devine encouraged the City Council to explore the possibility of data centers in Fredericksburg, suggesting the Celebrate Virginia South area near the Fredericksburg Nationals Stadium and the Rappahannock River.
“However, it appears that the city’s first serious, server-laden suitor wishes to put down fiberoptic roots in a different location — 83.5 acres straddling the Cowan Boulevard corridor near Interstate 95. On Thursday morning, city staff from several different departments will consider a pre-application from southern Maryland-based developer Penzance to construct a data center campus on four parcels that were once under consideration for a Veteran’s Affairs clinic,” reports the Fredericksburg Free Press.
On Saturday, Aug. 10, the Stafford County Animal Shelter will host its sixth annual “Clear the Shelter” adoption event. This summer, the shelter has been overwhelmed by the number of pets surrendered by owners for many reasons, including increasing costs of pet care.
The shelter is legally required to take in all animals brought to them. Stafford County Sheriff’s Capt. Joseph Bice, who oversees the shelter, said, “We’re getting dogs at a rate of three to one compared to the rate of adoption.” He added, “We want to provide care and a place for them to stay, but the problem is space…In 2014, we took in around 330 dogs. Last year, we took in over a thousand, and this year we’re on track to take in 1,200 to 1,400.”
